Lobelia plant named ‘LOCPI03-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Lobelia erinus cultivar named ‘LOCPI03-0’ is disclosed, characterized by very well-branched, compact plants. Flowers are large and distinctively light purple with a white throat infrequently striped dark purple. The new variety is a Lobelia, and is normally used as an ornamental garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Lobelia erinus.

Variety denomination: ‘LOCPI03-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of a breeding program, with the objectto develop floriferous compact Lobelia varieties for commercialapplications. The new variety originated from a crossing of the seedparent, an unnamed proprietary Lobelia erinus with the pollen parent,also an unnamed, unpatented proprietary Lobelia erinus. The crossresulting in the new variety was made June 2013 at a research greenhousein Dresden, Germany.

The new variety was selected by the inventor, during June of 2014 at aresearch nursery in greenhouse in Dresden, Germany. After identifyingthe new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventorcontinued confidential testing and propagation of ‘LOCPI03-0’ assessingstability of the unique characteristics of this variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘LOCPI03-0’ was first performedin Dresden, Germany by vegetative terminal cuttings in August of 2014.‘LOCPI03-0’ has since been reproduced over multiple generations and hasshown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘LOCPI03-0’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘LOCPI03-0’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘LOCPI03-0’ as a new and distinct Lobelia erinuscultivar:

-   -   1. Large flowers.    -   2. Compact plant habit.    -   3. Light purple flowers with a white throat having infrequent        dark purple stripes.    -   4. Improved branching, producing more branches per plant than        typically observed in commercial varieties.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOCPI03-0’ are similar to the seed parent inmost horticultural characteristics. The new variety, however, differs inthe following:

-   -   1. The new variety produces pink flowers compared to the blue        flower of the seed parent

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOCPI03-0’ are similar to the pollen parentin most horticultural characteristics. The new variety, however, differsin the following:

-   -   1. The new variety produces pink flowers compared to the blue        flower of the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOCPI03-0’ are similar to plants of thecommercial variety, Lobelia erinus ‘Africo Lavender’, unpatented, inmost horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar‘LOCPI03-0’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety are more compact than this        comparator.    -   2. Plants of the new variety produce a brighter colored flower        than plants of this comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘LOCPI03-0’ are similar to plants of thecommercial variety, Lobelia erinus ‘Weslodala’, unpatented, in mosthorticultural characteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar‘LOCPI03-0’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Plants of the new variety produce larger flowers than this        comparator.    -   2. Plants of the new variety produce more branches than plants        of this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘LOCPI03-0’ grown in a greenhouse and photographed inJune, after a month of high temperatures. The pot size is a commercial10 inch pot. The plant shown is approximately 20 weeks old.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of flowers of the new variety,photographed during April under slightly cooler conditions than theplant in FIG. 1.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘LOCPI03-0’ plants grown in a commercialcontrolled greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. Temperatures ranged from15° C. to 28° C. during the day and 18° C. to 22° C. at night. Noartificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments weregiven to the plants. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Lobelia erinus ‘LOCPI03-0’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 8 to 14 days at approximately 25° C.-   Root description: Fibrous, colored near RHS Greyed-Orange 165D.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounded flowering annual.-   Height: 13 cm.-   Plant spread: 45 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate to rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Very well branched, having improved    branching, producing more branches per plant than typically observed    in commercial varieties.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Average range 12 to 20 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 3 mm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: About 200.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Form.—Round.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 138B, flushed greyed-Purple N186C and            N187B.        -   Texture.—Soft, short, dense pubescence.        -   Strength.—Moderately flexible and strong.-   Internode length: Average range 1.0 to 2.5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 10 to 20 per branch.        -   Average length.—1.5 to 2.5 cm.        -   Average width.—4 to 6 mm.        -   Shape of blade.—Lanceolate to narrow elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Sparse dentations.        -   Texture of top surface.—Softly pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Softly pubescent.        -   Aspect.—Slightly to moderately folded upward from mid-vein.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137B. Young            foliage under side: RHS Green 138B. Mature foliage upper            side: RHS Green 139A, lightly flushed N187A at apex. Mature            foliage under side: RHS Green 139A, heavily covered in            N186C.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS            Green 137C. Venation color under side: RHS Green 139A.        -   Petiole.—Sessile.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Flowering occurs continuously during    growing season from spring until fall under Southern California    climatic conditions. Flowering begins approximately 3 weeks after    planting a rooted cutting.-   Flower type and habit: Flowers arranged singly at lateral apices.-   Number of flowers per plant: Approximately 500.-   Fragrance: None-   Longevity: Depending on weather conditions, 7-14 days for single    flower. Flowering season for the entire plant lasts approximately    250 days.-   Flower size:    -   -   Overall length.—1.7 cm.        -   Overall width.—2.3 cm.        -   Tube length.—1 cm.        -   Diameter.—Distal end: 4 mm. Proximal end: 2 mm.-   Flower shape and petal arrangement: Tubular with three larger lower    petals and two upright petals.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Conical with a distal sphere.        -   Length.—1.3 cm.        -   Diameter.—5 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS White 155A, distal sphere flushed Purple            77D.-   Corolla:    -   -   Petals/lobes.—Number: 5 total, 3 large lower and 2 smaller            upper petals. Upper petals. Length: 1.2 cm. Width: 0.7 cm.            Lower petals. Length: 1.0 cm. Width: 0.6 cm. Shape: Obovate.            Aspect: Slightly undulate. Margin: Entire, moderately            undulate. Texture: Smooth. Color: When opening: Upper            surface: Near RHS Purple 76A. Lower surface: Near RHS Purple            76B, blotched Purple 77A, base White N155B. Fully opened:            Upper surface: Near RHS Purple 76A, margins 76B. Lower            surface: Near RHS Violet-Purple N80D, mid vein N79C, base            White N155B. Throat: Color: Near RHS White N155D, striped            Purple N79B, white section may have a very small flush            Yellow 9B. Texture: Glabrous. Tube color: Interior: Near RHS            White N155B, striped N79B. Exterior: Near RHS Violet-Purple            N80C, base White N155B.-   Calyx:    -   -   Form.—Star-shaped structure composed of 5 sepals fused at            base.        -   Length.—1.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.        -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal texture.—Softly pubescent all surfaces.        -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: Near Green 137A flushed N187A.            Lower surface: Near Green 137A flushed N187A.-   Fragrance: None.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—About 2.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.8 mm.        -   Color.—147B, flushed N187A.        -   Texture.—Dense, soft pubescence.        -   Aspect.—Straight.        -   Strength.—Wiry, flexible.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—8.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161B.        -   Pollen.—Color: Near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161D. Quantity: Scant.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—3.0 cm.        -   Style.—Length: 1.8 cm. Color: Near RHS White N155D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Bi lobed. Color: Near RHS Green-White 157A.        -   Ovary.—Ovary Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Ovary            Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Ovary diameter: Approximately            0.1 cm. Ovary shape: Linear.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures from    approximately −5° to 35-8° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plantnamed ‘LOCPI03-0’ as herein illustrated and described.